Rauner's second State of the State offered a different tone from his speech a year ago and noted that Illinois "can't wait any longer." He also called for a "grand compromise" that will "cast partisanship and ideology aside."

"If each of us commits to serious negotiation based on mutual respect for our co-equal branches of government, there’s not a doubt in my mind we can come together to pass a balanced budget alongside reforms," Rauner said. "If we work together, Illinois can be both compassionate and competitive."

While some Democratic legislators, like Senate President John Cullerton, commended the governor for his plans on education funding and pension reform, many still criticized his budget stance.

"On a daily basis our safety net is unraveling, leaving disabled seniors and homeless veterans nowhere to go," Cullerton said in a statement. "We're not honoring our student aid commitments to college students. We're not providing any public support to our public universities and colleges. That's all because of the stance the governor has taken over the state's budget. He caused this. He can end it."

State Senator Pat McGuire also stressed the state's need to pass a budget.

"Notably missing from the governor's speech was an acknowledgment that Illinois' network of human services and higher education are in crisis because of the budget impasse," Biss said in a statement. "This problem must be resolved quickly."

"Here at Chicago State, operations may shut down within a month," said Duckworth. "We can't punish kids like this."

As of Wednesday, no budget has been approved and there’s no sign lawmakers and the governor are making progress. With voters heading to the polls in mid-March, many predict the budget stalemate may linger even longer as lawmakers focus first on their own re-election.